Timothy Workman
Encyclopedia
Senior District Judge Timothy Workman CBE
is a leading British
judge
, a long-term stipendiary magistrate who serves as Senior District Judge
and Chief Magistrate
for London
.
From 1967 to 1969, Workman was a probation officer
in the Inner London
district, before working as a solicitor
until 1986, when he was appointed to serve as a Stipendiary Magistrate for the metropolitan district of London. When, in 2000, the Provincial and Metropolitan Stipendiary Benches merged, Workman was made Deputy Senior District Judge. In February 2003, following the retirement of Mrs. Penelope Hewitt CBE, Mr. Workman was appointed by the Lord Chancellor
as the Senior District Judge and Chief Magistrate for the London District Bench in the Magistrates Court, and was replaced in his rôle of Deputy Senior District Judge by Miss Daphne Wickham a few months later.
As Chief Magistrate, Mr. Workman chose to sat almost exclusively at the historic Bow Street Magistrates' Court
, where he handled the vast majority of all extradition
and terrorism cases which passed through his jurisdiction, until that Court was closed. He now sits at the former Horseferry Road
MC, now known as City of Westminster Magistrates' Court
.
Mr. Workman served on the Inner London Probation Committee from 1990, and on the Committee of Magistrates for London (later the Inner London Magistrates' Courts Committee) from 1995, both until 2000. He currently serves on the Sentencing Guidelines Council
, the Council of the Magistrates' Association, and the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee for Inner London.
In September 2005, he issued an unprecedented arrest warrant for a retired Israeli Army officer, Major General Doron Almog, based on statements of a Palestinian group about actions in the Gaza Strip
. The warrant was issued on suspicion of committing a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) by the unjustified destruction of almost 60 refugee houses in 2002. The Israeli stayed on the aircraft instead of getting off at London and being arrested by waiting Metropolitan Police officers from the UK's Anti-Terrorist and War Crimes Unit.
Timothy Workman may have been the target of a Russian intelligence assassination attempt although the police think that the evidence points to the involvement of someone who lives or lived locally. 83-year-old retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert Workman, who lived in Furneux Pelham
in Hertfordshire was killed with a shotgun blast on 7 January 2004. News reports indicate that Robert Workman's murder may have been a case of mistaken identity. Judge Timothy Workman rejected the Russian government's extradition request for Akhmed Zakayev
, the Chechen
leader in London because of a "substantial risk" of torture or death. The Kremlin accused Workman of playing "cold war politics". Workman also rejected the Kremlin extradition request for Russian wealthy expatriate Boris Berezovsky.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
is a leading British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, a long-term stipendiary magistrate who serves as Senior District Judge
District Judge
District Judge may refer to*A member of the Judiciary of England and Wales*A United States federal judgeNormally concerned with the civil law. I.e. Families, bankruptcy, property etc....
and Chief Magistrate
Chief Magistrate
Chief Magistrate is a generic designation for a public official whose office—individual or collegial—is the highest in his or her class, in either of the fundamental meanings of Magistrate : as a major political and administrative office , and/or as a judge Chief Magistrate is a generic designation...
for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
From 1967 to 1969, Workman was a probation officer
Probation officer
Parole officers and probation officers play a role in criminal justice systems by supervising offenders released from incarceration or sentenced to non-custodial sanctions such as community service...
in the Inner London
Inner London
Inner London is the name for the group of London boroughs which form the interior part of Greater London and are surrounded by Outer London. The area was first officially defined in 1965 and for purposes such as statistics, the definition has changed over time. The terms Inner London and Central...
district, before working as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
until 1986, when he was appointed to serve as a Stipendiary Magistrate for the metropolitan district of London. When, in 2000, the Provincial and Metropolitan Stipendiary Benches merged, Workman was made Deputy Senior District Judge. In February 2003, following the retirement of Mrs. Penelope Hewitt CBE, Mr. Workman was appointed by the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
as the Senior District Judge and Chief Magistrate for the London District Bench in the Magistrates Court, and was replaced in his rôle of Deputy Senior District Judge by Miss Daphne Wickham a few months later.
As Chief Magistrate, Mr. Workman chose to sat almost exclusively at the historic Bow Street Magistrates' Court
Bow Street Magistrates' Court
Bow Street Magistrates' Court was the most famous magistrates' court in England for much of its existence, and was located in various buildings on Bow Street in central London close to Covent Garden throughout its history.-History:...
, where he handled the vast majority of all extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
and terrorism cases which passed through his jurisdiction, until that Court was closed. He now sits at the former Horseferry Road
Horseferry Road
Horseferry Road is a street in the City of Westminster in central London, England, running between Millbank and Greycoat Place. It is perhaps best known as the site of City of Westminster Magistrates' Court...
MC, now known as City of Westminster Magistrates' Court
City of Westminster Magistrates' Court
The City of Westminster Magistrates' Court was a magistrates' court located at 70 Horseferry Road, in the City of Westminster, London. It was originally called Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court, after Horseferry Road where it was sited,. However, it was renamed in July 2006 following the closure...
.
Mr. Workman served on the Inner London Probation Committee from 1990, and on the Committee of Magistrates for London (later the Inner London Magistrates' Courts Committee) from 1995, both until 2000. He currently serves on the Sentencing Guidelines Council
Sentencing Guidelines Council
The Sentencing Guidelines Council was a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom, created by s.167 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. It gave authoritative guidance on sentencing to the courts of England and Wales...
, the Council of the Magistrates' Association, and the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee for Inner London.
In September 2005, he issued an unprecedented arrest warrant for a retired Israeli Army officer, Major General Doron Almog, based on statements of a Palestinian group about actions in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
. The warrant was issued on suspicion of committing a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) by the unjustified destruction of almost 60 refugee houses in 2002. The Israeli stayed on the aircraft instead of getting off at London and being arrested by waiting Metropolitan Police officers from the UK's Anti-Terrorist and War Crimes Unit.
Timothy Workman may have been the target of a Russian intelligence assassination attempt although the police think that the evidence points to the involvement of someone who lives or lived locally. 83-year-old retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert Workman, who lived in Furneux Pelham
Furneux Pelham
Furneux Pelham, or alternatively Furneaux Pelham, , is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. The village is one of the Pelhams, along with Brent Pelham and Stocking Pelham....
in Hertfordshire was killed with a shotgun blast on 7 January 2004. News reports indicate that Robert Workman's murder may have been a case of mistaken identity. Judge Timothy Workman rejected the Russian government's extradition request for Akhmed Zakayev
Akhmed Zakayev
Akhmed Khalidovich Zakayev is the former Deputy Prime Minister and the current Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria , which is unrecognised by other countries...
, the Chechen
Chechen people
Chechens constitute the largest native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. They refer to themselves as Noxçi . Also known as Sadiks , Gargareans, Malkhs...
leader in London because of a "substantial risk" of torture or death. The Kremlin accused Workman of playing "cold war politics". Workman also rejected the Kremlin extradition request for Russian wealthy expatriate Boris Berezovsky.